Cyclist in medically-induced coma after collision with FrontRunner train

Cyclist in medically-induced coma after collision with FrontRunner train

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SALT LAKE CITY — An 18-year-old cyclist is in a medically-induced coma after colliding with a FrontRunner train in Salt Lake City Thursday.

The man was attempting to cross the train tracks at 800 S. 500 West but did so while the red safety lights were still flashing and the crossing arms were lowered, according to Utah Transit Authority spokesman Carl Arky. The cyclist's view of the approaching train was obscured by a Union Pacific train that was passing in front of the FrontRunner train.

As the Union Pacific train finished crossing, the cyclist continued forward and collided with the FrontRunner train, Arky said.

"A lot of people don't even know that it's really the red light that is what they should be keying off of at a railroad crossing, not the arm and not the crossing gate. It's the light," Arky said.

Utahns often disregard the light and the crossing arms anyway, according to Arky. UTA loses 300 crossing arms per year as drivers try to drive through, under or around them.

Medical officials say it is difficult to give an accurate diagnosis for the victim of the crash because there is no communication with the patient.

Editor's Note: This article initially reported that the crossing arms were not lowered when the cyclist crossed the tracks, according to UTA. This has been fixed to reflect that they were lowered at the time.

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